HOW TO WORK R0MIR-1 PMS

TO: sarex@amsat.org
HOW TO WORK R0MIR-1
The MIR Space Station is currently orbiting the earth about every
95 minutes while traveling at roughly 17,000 MPH. Due to the fact
that MIR is a moving object, and radio frequencies being involved
here, Doppler corrections may be needed. On the 2 meter band, the
Doppler is a maximim of 3.5 khz on a pass directly overhead (90 degrees).
On a pass say 10 degrees above the horizion, the Doppler is small
about 1 khz. This can be a very important factor in working the packet
Personal Bulletin Board. This is because packets may become distorted.
Here are some items to look at in your station for sucessful attempts.
Note: Doppler on 2 meters is really not too valid unless there will be
a pass in excess of 45 degrees or so above you horizion. Your milage
will vary.
1. LOCATION
If you are in a bad location where it might be difficult to get
a signal out, you might be limited to the number of passes that
you can work. You might want to look into a simple 1/4 wave 2 meter
groundplane. This antenna has a good lobe looking up. (pre-amp suggested)
Another common antenna is a J pole, and is a good antenna for this.
If you are in the clear to your horizions, you have it made.
However, Doppler and antenna type will be your disadvantage.
For the average HAM station running say a 50 watt radio, and a J pole
antenna has a great advantage on MIR passes that are up to about
20 degrees above the horizion! Doppler isn't a real consideration
and your antenna pattern is ideal for something up to 20 degrees
above the horizion, or a bit more! Most radios will work, and no
frequency corrections are needed. Doppler up on UHF is around 10 KHZ
and Doppler compensation is needed! A MUST for SAFEX II or any UHF
satellite operations.
Note: SAFEX II repeater not operational at this writing.
437.950/435.750
2. TRACKING
You will need some satellite tracking software to know when and where
MIR will be in your area. There is alot of tracking software available
on the internet. I use STSPLUS, and have for over 12 years. Keplerian
information on MIR and other satellites is updated twice weekly, and can
be found on your local BBS.
3. FREQUENCY
The frequency is 145.985 SIMLPEX World Wide. (1200 baud packet and Voice)
Note: This frequency is subject to change soon! Look for MIREX UPDATES!
4. PACKET WISE
If you are not familar with packet connections or mailboxes, do some
expermentations on the ground first before trying to operate MIR.
The TNC on MIR is a Kantronics KPC-9612+ V 8.1 and is operating at
1200 baud ONLY. Here is the HELP that you would get on R0MIR-1 when
using the Help (H) command.
B(ye) PBBS WILL DISCONNECT
E(dit) n [BPTYNFH] [>tocall] [<fromcall] [@BBS] "old" "new"
H(elp) THIS LIST!
J(heard) CALLSIGNS WITH DAYSTAMP
J S(hort) HEARD CALLSIGNS ONLY
J L(ong) CALLSIGNS WITH DAYSTAMP AND VIAS
L [x [y]] [;] LIST MESSAGES x THRU y YOU CAN READ
L <|> call LIST MESSAGES FROM OR TO CALL
LB LIST BULLETINS
LC [cat] LIST CATEGORIES
LL n LIST LAST n MESSAGES
LM(ine) LIST UNREAD MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
LO [+|-] LISTING ORDER
LT LIST TRAFFIC
LTn DISPLAY LOCATION TEXT n=1-4
K(ill) n DELETE MESSAGE NUMBER n
KM(ine) DELETE ALL READ MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
R(ead) n DISPLAY MESSAGE NUMBER n
RH n DISPLAY MESSAGE n WITH HEADERS
RM(ine) READ ALL MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
S(end) call SEND MESSAGE TO callsign
S[B|P|T] call SEND BULLETIN, PRIVATE, or TRAFFIC
Please don't use the Help command on MIR. This is STANDARD to MOST
TNC's and doing so just limits the use of MIR by other stations.
**** There can only be ONE user connected to R0MIR-1 at a time. ****
5. BE PREPARED
If you wish to send a message to the crew, have a file of message READY
to go! What I usually do is make a message to R0MIR BEFORE I even send it.
On my KPC-9612, I get in my mailbox, and SP R0MIR@MIR Then enter the
subject and then the message. When MIR is in range, and the mailbox is
not being used, I forward the message. My TNC talks to MIR's TNC and
goes through the forwarding process. This is ALOT quicker! I send 3.7K
of info in one minute! This includes the connect to disconnect time.
Consult YOUR TNC users manual for forwarding mail to a station.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Note: As of 12 June 1998 there is a Russian crew ONLY!
They DO NOT speak english or any other language. ALL MAIL addressed
to the crew should be in Russian!
As of 24 June 1998, the mailbox has been opened up to third party
traffic. See MIREX UPDATES for more information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
HINTS:
PLEASE WAIT FOR A <<D>> FRAME FROM R0MIR-1 TO THE CURRENTLY CONNECTED
STATION BEFORE YOU TRY A CONNECTION!
Most TNC's use the command MCOM ON to see ALL frame headers.
Consult your TNC user manual for more information.
cmd: MCOM ON
eg. R0MIR-1>WA6LIE [06/21/98 01:00:24]: <<rr2>>: (This is what my tnc shows)
R0MIR-1>W6XXX [06/21/98 01:00:30]: <<DM>>: (This station is QRMing)
R0MIR-1>K6XXX [06/21/98 01:00:34]: <<DM>>: (This station is ALSO QRMing)
WHY? R0MIR-1 hasn't yet finished with WA6LIE, thus still connected!
The <<D>> is a disconnect request from R0MIR-1 (To connected station ONLY)
At this time, you MIGHT be able to connect to R0MIR-1 IF the connected
station has already send his <<D>> request.
R0MIR-1>WA6LIE [06/21/98 01:00:45]: <<D>>: (NOW R0MIR-1 is DONE with WA6LIE)
A <<DM>> commonly seen is a "Disconnect" sent to a station.
We call this DM City! In otherwords, NO PERSON is doing ANYTHING EXCEPT
getting Disconnected! This is seen when stations are trying to connect to
R0MIR-1 when there is ALREADY a user CONNECTED!
THIS IS THE MAIN CONTRIBUTATION TO QRM AND FAILURES of those that are
connected, or trying to connect, or send/read mail!
EXAMPLE:
If I were on a high speed highway, and STOPPED in the middle of the
road to see where I was at, I would become a traffic hazzard. Others
would honk their horns and give obscene gestures. Someone else will
rearend me, and cause a major accident and close down the road.
IF I had been aware of where I was at, and where I was going, there
would be no incident, and everything would FLOW NORMALLY!
Bottom line: LOOK,THINK and LISTEN FIRST!
Don't try to send a message to your buddy down the street to MIR's
PERSONAL Mailbox. It will NOT allow 3rd party messages. If you try,
you will get a response - MESSAGES MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THIS STATION.
Please Don't connect to your buddies MAILBOX OR HOME STATION Via
the MIR digipeater! This is like you and your buddy going down the
highway at the same speed chit-chatting - IMPEEDING TRAFFIC!
** IF you can run your radio squelch open (using CD SOFTWARE KPC only),
you will increase your odds of decoding the signal.
Consult your Kantronics manual for more information.
--------------
6. BE COURTEOUS
See #5 above, and apply here.
Again, please don't try connecting to R0MIR-1 when someone else is already
connected! You will get a R0MIR-1 **BUSY. When you get this, don't
keep trying while others are connected. This just messes up the other
station, and it is interference and will just take that much LONGER
for the user to finish before he/she disconnects. Would you like
others interfering with your connects to MIR? Look for the <<D>> frame
from R0MIR-1 to the connected station. Using MCOM ON will allow you
to see all these packets. Here is what MY KPC-9612 would show.
R0MIR-1>WA6LIE/1 [05/13/98 22:18:04]: <<D>>:
After you see this, hopefully, the ground station has sent his/her
disconnect to R0MIR-1, and it will be ready for the next connect.
-----------------
R0MIR
This is the callsign of MIR. This port has no value to working MIR
except credit towards a QSL card. There is nobody at the keyboard.
You will get *** BUSY ***DISCONECTED
-----------------
QSL REQUESTS USA and WW except Europe:
Dave Larsen - N6CO
PO Box 1501
Pine Grove, California
95665
USA
Please include a SASE (Business Size Envelope) and one IRC > for
international. If you are sending an IRC, Please make sure it is dated
1998, as the post office won't accept IRC's dated over 1 year old.
"Green Stamps" (USA ONLY) are apreciated for covering additional costs.
European QSLs To:
Radio Club "F5KAM - QSL Manger de "R0MIR"
" Carrefour International de la Radio"
22, Rue BANSAC - 63000 - CLERMONT-FERRAND - FRANCE
with a self-adressed envelope, and two 1998 IRC coupons.
------------------------------------
If you have any questions, drop me a note!
73, Scott
E-Mail: wa6lie@juno.com
Packet: wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam
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